World-renowned artist Thijs Biersteker creates data-driven artworks that transform complex scientific research into emotional experiences, reaching both the heads of state and the hearts of the public.
In his scientific collaborations with UNESCO, WHO, LVMH, and many others, he seamlessly weaves together scientific data with recycled plastics, kinetic engines powered by large biodiversity datasets, and living trees equipped with sensors and AI—leading to powerful artworks that help people imagine the impact of the latest research on biodiversity and planetary health.
His work has been exhibited at major cultural institutions such as Fondation Cartier (FR) and the Barbican centre (UK), and featured at global platforms like COP and the Montreux Jazz Festival. As a leading advocate for combining facts and feelings to understand the pressing issues of our time, Thijs has spoken at the UN, delivered three TED Talks, and founded the Woven Foundation.
Through his work, Thijs and his team make complex environmental issues accessible, understandable, and personal. Their unique approach to combining facts and feelings is giving them a new voice at key conferences and world-class museums around the world—advocating for scientific research to reach deep into culture and policy.
Photo by Alice Jacquemin
With the Woven Foundation, they are extending their vision and methods to create and educate new forms of engagement between science, policymakers, and the public. Their work has been acknowledged for redefining the boundaries of art and science communication—sparking a new generation of science communicators.